The Professional

A/N: Hello, everyone! It's me, Ravyna, back again with another story! This one is inspired by The Professional and most of the songs off of Kiss Land and the Trilogy by The Weeknd. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter I

I took my usual seat at a round table at the back of the bar. I fished out my crushed pack of cigarettes from my pocket, pulling one loose and placing it between my lips. I then proceeded to yank my lighter from the inner pocket of my jacket and lit up my cancer stick. I inhaled the smoke and exhaled. That first drag was heavenly, it had been too long of a day.

I watched the bar patrons socialize, drunk off their asses and talking nonsense. There were people playing billiards and shooting darts on the other side of the room as well. I watched them all with a small sense of disdain. They all had something I dearly lacked. What was it that I lacked again? That's right. Happiness. I lacked happiness.

A perky waitress with blond hair styled in a high ponytail walked over to me, a pad and pen in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. Her blue eyes smiled down at me. "What can I get ya tonight, Mr. Hatake?"

"Iced tea with lemon, please." I said, looking down to flick the ash off my cigarette into the green plastic ash tray on the table. I had quit drinking years ago but coming here was always habit.

"Alright, I'll be back in a few with your drink." She said and winked at me.

"Thanks, Ino." Ino sashayed away, making her shapely hips sway in a more pronounced fashion. She was always trying to get my attention but I just wasn't interested. Not after...

I slapped a hand to my forehead and dragged it down my face to push that thought out of my head. I couldn't keep dwelling on it. It had been two years already. In fact, it was two years today. I wanted to join the patrons in their drunkenness but I didn't want to break my sobriety for this. It was something I had already dealt with some time ago...

Ino bounced over from the bar and set down a napkin before placing my tea on it. "Can I get you anything else?" Ino said, obviously meaning to offer her services in a different way as she twirled a strand of pale blond hair around her finger. "I'm fine, thank you." Ino smiled and I could see that I disappointed her once again. She walked away, normally this time.

I sipped on my tea and continued to people watch. I observed everyone's happiness and wished to siphon some for myself. I hadn't been happy for so long now. Just thinking about it and watching it all around me made me angry. I took the final drag off of my cigarette and smashed it angrily into the ashtray. I was becoming so pathetic. My whole life revolved around my teaching profession at the university and coming here for hours after my shift ended. I always left far worse than I arrived. This place soured my mood but I still couldn't stop coming. I was addicted to seeing others happiness and desiring it for myself.

Someone entering the bar caught my attention. I snapped my head in the direction of the door and was welcomed to the sight of an attractive pink haired young woman I had never seen before. Her hair was pulled up high into an intricate updo. She was clad in a fashionable black dress that rested some inches above her knee. The mystery girl looked out of place in this bar. Her black heels clacked against the cement floor as she made her way over to the bar. I watched her converse with Ino and they both laughed at something that was obviously hilarious. Great, more happy people. The mystery girl took a seat at the bar facing me and Ino prepared her a drink and mixed several different alcohols, shaking it up vigorously in a metal shaker before pouring the mixture into a good sized glass. That girl was definately on a mission to get fucked up. Ino served the drink to the pink haired girl and the girl sipped on the concoction through a black straw. I watch her drink over half before she sat the drink back down. She took a napkin and gently patted her pink lips with it before setting it down on the bar.

Another body entered the bar. I turned my attention to the door once again. This time it was a man, he was around my age. He had dark brown hair that was shorter on the top and a bit longer in the back and off putting dark eyes. He walked over to the bar and sat down next to the pink haired girl. They instantly became engrossed in conversation. Must be her boyfriend. I withdrew my attention from the couple and finished the last bit of iced tea in my glass before pulling out my wallet, procuring some cash for the tea and a large tip and took my leave of the bar. I couldn't ignore the pair of jade eyes that followed me across the bar.

-X-

I sighed as I stuffed my paperwork and books into my briefcase. Today had been a particularly grueling day. Seeing as it was almost summer, keeping my students focused had been a challenge. There were many reprimands and extra homework handouts. I rubbed the knot of muscle in my neck before standing up, grabbing my briefcase, and turning off the lights of the class room. I took one last look at the room before exiting the room. I walked down the empty hallway and the only sound I could hear were my black dress shoes hitting the polished tile floor. I pushed through the doors at the end of the hallway and made my way into the teacher parking lot. I pulled my car keys from the pocket of my khaki slacks and pressed the unlock button on the key fob. My little silver car flashed its lights at me happily and I was relieved to finally be done with my week. I opened the door of my car and plopped down into the black cloth seats. Sweet relief.

I pushed my key into the ignition and the car roared to life around me. I gave a little pat on the dash of my old reliable car before putting the car in gear and backing out of the parking space. I drove out of the parking lot and turned left, going the direction of the bar I always ended up at every night. I passed old large buildings and before long I was at the bar. The neon sign that flashed Lady J's welcomed me familiarly. I got out of the car and locked it before casually strolling up to the doors of the bar. Ino was outside smoking a cigarette and waved me over. I turned to her and she smiled at me.

"How's it going, Mr. Hatake? Want to have a smoke with me?" She offered me one of her cigarettes and I declined while pulling out my own pack. I lit the cigarette and leaned against the wall next to Ino.

"How was your day? Did the kids give you hell?" She said as she exhaled the pungent smoke. "Mm, yes. It's almost summer so students get obnoxious." I inhaled and exhaled my own smoke.

"That's too bad. They should pay attention...I know I would be." The meaning behind her words were not lost on me, I just chose to ignore it and responded with a grunt. A silence pressed itself between us for a few moments. Thoughts of that random pink haired girl popped into my head.

"Who was that girl that came in last night before I left? The one with pink hair? I've never seen her here before." Ino was visibly agitated by my probing about another female.

"That's Sakura. She comes here sometimes to do business. What kind of business? I have no idea. All I know is that men show up, they have some drinks and they leave together."

Interesting, I thought to myself. I didn't ask any more questions. I finished my cigarette in silence as Ino squirmed next to me. I could tell that she wanted me to talk to her some more but I wasn't up for it. I flicked my cigarette into the butt bucket next to my feet and walked inside the bar. It was kind of empty at the moment since it was about five o'clock but soon it would be full of people. I took my usual table and lit up another cigarette. It wasn't long before Ino was back in the bar and over at my table to take my order. I ordered another tea and a small plate of fries to ease my rumbling stomach. I hadn't eaten all day and I hadn't really wanted to, I still didn't want to but I knew my body needed some sort of sustenance. Ino took my order with a smile and sashayed away again.

Since there wasn't really enough bodies here to watch, I turned my attention to one of the many TVs in the bar and watched a sports program mindlessly. I wasn't really into sports or television in general but it kept my mind off things I didn't want to think about. I continued to watch sports until Ino returned to my side with my tea and the plate of fries. The smell of the greasy food made me want to gag but I brought one to my lips and forced myself to eat. It was actually quite tasty, I just didn't eat much anymore. I thanked Ino and she nodded happily before returning to her place at the bar to talk to one of the few patrons. I drank my tea and ate my salty fries in relative peace.

A couple of hours passed by without me noticing and more people were arriving by the second. Before I knew it, the bar was almost packed with friends and couples wanting to have a good time since it was the weekend. The noise level in the bar was almost unbearable but I was able to push it out of my head and continued to watch the TVs. A few more hours passed before I started my people watching. I always waited until people were quite drunk before I started my creepy past time. I was currently watching a couple at the bar argue about some perceived slight and it made me happy I wasn't married anymore. Not that it was by my choice or anything...

I pushed that thought out of my head once again and changed objects. I watched a couple of frat boys play pool and boast about their many abilities ranging from skill at playing pool to wooing women. Gross. To think I was once one of those kids. Although, I wasn't a frat boy, I did my fair share of partying and chasing women. Once again, I was glad I was not them. I was glad I wasn't most of these people. I just wanted their happiness and contentment with life. I was pulled out of my thoughts by someone walking into the bar. It was the pink haired girl again, Sakura. This time she was wearing a red dress that hugged every bit of her curves and that hiked her breasts up, pushing them together as well. She was wearing matching heels made of a shiny leather. Sakura once again walked up to the bar and sat down. Ino made her a drink, the same one as last night, and served it to her. Sakura sucked down half again then set it down on the bar. I felt a weird sense of deja vu watching her habits. She was doing the same things as last night.

It wasn't much longer before a man walked in and took his seat beside her. It was the same one from last night. The began their conversation and ordered more drinks, just like Ino had said earlier. I watched them go through several rounds, talking and laughing like normal people but nothing about this situation was normal to me. There was something else going on. I watched them for quite some time. The man got up to go to the restroom, slightly stumbling on his way there. It was then that green eyes locked on to mine. I quickly moved my attention elsewhere. I didn't enjoy when my objects tried to turn my past time against me. I looked down at the table and kept my eyes there, hoping that she wasn't going to do anything about my staring. I was wrong. I felt warmth at my side and I raised my eyes to be met with red then with green and pink.

"I saw you watching me. Both tonight and last night. What are you so curious about?" She smirked as she looked down at me.

"I apologize, I just happen to enjoy people watching." I said quietly.

"That's kind of creepy, you know." She said, there was a slight playfulness in her voice.

"I wasn't meaning to be creepy." Sakura eyed me and leaned down on the table, her breasts were almost in my face.

"Hm. Don't you have a girlfriend or wife or something to focus on?" I shook my head at her.

"I thought you looked a little lonely." She sighed and rested her hand in her palm. "Perhaps I can help you out."

I looked up at her, confused. "How?" I asked.

"Hold on." She said then walked over to the bar to grab her little red clutch and made her way over to my table again.

Sakura dug through the clutch before letting out a victorious "Aha!" and pulled out a black card, sliding it across the table to me. I picked it up and analyzed it. There was only a phone number written across it in white.

"What is this?" I asked as I looked at the card.

"That's how you can reach me. Whenever you're lonely and need company, give me a call." I raised my eyes to look at her.

"Are you a prostitute?" I asked shamelessly. Sakura laughed a hearty laugh before looking down at me, her eyes full of mirth.

"No, silly. I'm an escort."

My eyes widened a little at her confession. "Aren't you afraid that I will turn you into the police?"

Her smile widened. "Escorting isn't exactly illegal, sir."

I raised a brow at her. "But it isn't exactly legal either?"

She nodded. "Precisely! I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm only keeping you company not fucking you for money."

"Hm." I hummed and placed the card in the inner pocket of my jacket.

"Just so you know, my password is 'cherry blossoms, oh cherry blossoms, in the spring sky, as far as the eye can see'. Use it when...or if...you call that number." Sakura winked at me before rising from the table.

"You use a traditional song of your namesake as your password? Isn't that a little easy to guess?" I asked as I leaned back in my chair.

"You'd be surprised at how many people get it wrong."

"Hm." I hummed again.

Sakura suddenly straightened up. "Oh, there's my client. Give me a call...or don't. I'm leaving it up to you." She ran or at least tried to in her tall heels over to the bar where her client was starting to take his seat again. I could hear her yelling "Oh, Yamato!" as she laughed that hearty laugh that she had given me moments before. I felt a slight twinge of jealousy pass through me. Strange. Why was I feeling jealous? Did I secretly desire her attention?

I fingered the card in my inner pocket absent mindedly.

Strange. So very strange.

-X-